Improvement in washing-machines



W. M. FITZWATER. Washing-Menuhin.

ATTIIBMEIS.

N.PE|'ERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. FITZWATER, OF GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO FITZWATER, FORD & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,661, dated June 11, 1878 application filed October 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. FITZ- WATER, of Greeneville, in the county of Greene and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clothes-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved machine, part being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the beater. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the beater.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- 'sponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine for washing clothes which shall be simple in construction, convenient in use, and effective in operation, washing the clothes quickly and thoroughly.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawing, and then pointed out in claim.

A is a frame of convenient size and height, in the center of which is placed a vertical shaft, B. The shaft B passes down through a hole in a cross-bar attached to the top of the frame A, and its lower end revolves in a tiole or socket in a cross-bar attached to the lower part of the said frame A.

To the upper end of the shaft Bis attached a circular plate, 0, to which is securely attached a tub, D. The rear posts of the frame A project above the top of the tub D, and to their upper parts are pivoted two parallel shafts, E F.

To the middle part of the lower shaft F are rigidly attached the ends of two parallel bars or levers, Gr, which project across the tub D, and the outer ends of which are connected by a short cross-bar, H, which serves as a handle in operating the machine.

To the middle part of the upper shaft E are attached the ends of two parallel arms, I, which are placed directly above the levers G, and are made of such a length that their forward ends may be directly above the middle part of the tub D. To and between the ends of the arms I and the levers G is pivoted the handle of the beater J, the head of which is made rectangular in form, of such a length as to reach across the bottom of the tub D, and has a number of holes formed in its face, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By this construction the beater J will be moved up and down vertically by operating the levers Gr.

To one end of the upper shaft E is rigidly attached a downward-projectin g arm, K, to the lower end of which is hinged the end of a long pawl, L, the engaging end of which engages with ratchet-teeth formed upon the upper edge of a rim, M, attached to the edge of the circular plate 0, so that the tub D may be rotated at each upward movement of the beater J, to cause the said beater to operate each time upon a new part of the clothes, except the clothes in the middle part of the tub D, which part will be all the time operated upon by the beater. By this construction, by placing the more soiled part of the clothes in the middle part of the tub, they will be washed clean as quickly as the other parts.

I am aware that a wash-tub pivoted on a central shaft, and provided with a ratchet-rim, has heretofore been intermittingly rotated by means of apawl engaging with the ratchet-rim, and that avertically-reciprocat ngpounder has been employed in connection with the above described construction; and I therefore lay no claim to such invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination, with the ring 0, carrying the tub D, and provided with the ratchet-teeth M, of the pivoted frame I E F, levers G H, arm K, pawl L, and the pounder J, always striking in its descent across the center of the bottom of the tub, whereby the more soiled part of the clothes, placed in the middle part of the tub, will be cleansed as quickly as the other parts, as herein specified.

WILLIAM M. FITZ WATER.

Witnesses:

D. R. BRITTQN, GEORGE KENNEY. 

